Monday 19 September 2011

Population: what are the causes and consequences of under population and over population?

This question has two main parts.

First let's define overpopulation and underpopulation. Then ask yourself, what causes each of these states? And what is the result?

Create a table or a spider to organise all your ideas.

Go to YouTube and explore population videos. Not all the videos agree that there is a world problem at all.

See how many different points of view, and different arguments you can find. For example, the Population 101 series starts from a different point of view to the one we normally see.

This document might also be helpful, remind me about the activities at the end to try.

Insight Zambia, BBC news video here.

You can see that population isn't just about graphs. It's politics, ecology, your rights, your responsibilities, the lives and decisions of other people and the flows and changes of social groups. Not much then, eh? Try an article by Jonathon Porritt.

What would you say in argument to a person who asserts that 'to have more than two children is irresponsible'?

Thursday 15 September 2011

Population: what are problems of population growth?

Walk through the area of town where lots of people live. What can you see? Walk through an area of town where few people live. What do you notice?

Find out what you can about Thomas Malthus. What do you read about him?

Watch some videos on YouTube explaining Malthus' ideas.

What problems can you think might occur, either when population growth is very rapid, or very slow?

Now imagine yourself 30 years into the future. You'll be aged over 40. Babies born in 2011 are now 30 years old. Are there enough jobs for you all? Who's supporting the elderly people (like me! I'll be 80!)? Are there enough babies being born to replace the oldies of us who are dying off? Does it matter?

Why might people need to project all these ideas anyway?

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Population. What is it?

What do you understand by the word population?

Go for a walk in three different environments:

-across the fields or to the beach
-in a minor street or alley
-along a major high street route

As you walk, look at the different people you see; think about their homes, lifestyles and jobs. Where might they live? You could speculate whether they have a large family or a small one.

Write out as many interpretations of this word as you can think of. Can you find examples, figures, and references to support your ideas?

Other places to start beside your home town? Travel to Wiki or Simple Wiki.

The world population stands at 7 billion. (This must be estimated, right? Who counted? How did they do that?) Watch the BBC version of this moment here.

Thursday 1 September 2011

IGCSE Geography (0460) Past Paper Questions 2010

IGCSE Geography (0460) Past Paper Questions 2010

Theme 1

For an example of international migration which you have studied, explain why many people made the decision to migrate. You should name the countries between which people migrated and refer both to pull and to push factors.

Many settlements have grown into large urban areas. For a named example of a large urban area which you have studied, explain the reasons for its growth.

Name an example of a city or country to which large numbers of people have migrated from other countries. Describe the effects of international migration on your chosen city or country.

Many towns and cities are growing rapidly. With reference to a named urban area which you have studied, describe the problems in its rural-urban fringe which are being caused by its growth.

For a country which you have studied, explain why the rate of natural population growth is low.

In all towns and cities there have been changes in land use in recent years. These include the development of transport, areas of housing, industries, leisure and shopping facilities. Briefly describe one recent change in land use in or close to a town or city which you have studied. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this change in land use for the people who live in the town or city.

The size and structure of the population in a country may change as a result of government policies. For a named country which you have studied, describe the policies which have been used by the government to influence rates of natural population growth.

For a named urban area which you have studied, describe the main features of its Central Business District (CBD).

Theme 2

Explain how one of the following has formed in a named area which you have studied: a spit; an area of coastal sand dunes. You should use labelled diagrams in your answer.

Describe the advantages and difficulties for people of living on a river delta. You should refer to a delta which you have studied.

Explain the causes of an earthquake which occurred in a named area which you have studied.

For a named tropical desert, explain how and why the natural environment is threatened by human activities.

Explain how and why a delta is formed. You should refer to an example you have studied and include labelled diagrams.

In many parts of the world the natural environment presents hazards to people. Choose an example of one of the following: a flood, a tropical storm, a drought. For a named area, describe the causes of the hazard which you have chosen.

Choose a named example of one of the following: an area of mountains, a fast-flowing river, a flood plain. Describe the ways in which your chosen type of natural environment can provide opportunities for the people who live there.

Theme 3

All farming systems have inputs, processes and outputs. Name an area where small-scale subsistence farming takes place. Describe the inputs,processes and outputs of this farming system.

Identify a form of energy and describe how its use threatens the natural environment in a named country or area which you have studied.

All farming systems have inputs, processes and outputs.Name an area where large-scale commercial farming takes place. Describe the inputs,processes and outputs of this farming system.

For a named area of tropical desert you have studied, explain why and how it is at risk from human activities.

Name an example of an area where manufacturing or processing industry has been located and explain the factors which have attracted this type of industry to the area.

For a named area which you have studied, explain why the tourist industry has developed there. You should refer to the area·s natural and built attractions.

Name an area where either manufacturing or processing industry is important and give an example of a type of industry (or factory) which you have studied in that area. Explain the reasons for its growth at that location.

Many areas have a shortage of water supplies. Describe the likely impacts of a water shortage on the people and development of a named area which you have studied.